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Augmented reality mural street artists use BrandXR to enhance art

Marco Santana • Aug 30, 2022

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Augmented reality murals have become one of the latest tech-driven ways artists can express their inner creativity.

The infusion of augmented reality murals have provided longtime artists with a new tool in their creative toolbox.

It’s with that in mind that Electrifly recently launched its Electrifly Detroit Augmented Reality Mural Festival in Michigan.

The second annual BrandXR production this year celebrates eight artists who worked hand-in-hand with our digital artists to create enhancements on their original work.

Artist Wendy Popko said she was absolutely in awe of the technology when she first experienced it.

Popko had been in line to work with Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, Mich., and her plan was to “bring cool stuff to a dying mall.”

While her impending work with the mall eventually fizzled out, Popko still wanted to work with the Electrifly team on augmented reality murals.

“As a public artist, I have constantly been searching for ways to make my art more interactive,” she said. “I’ve always loved the idea of art connecting with a viewer.

Popko’s piece, “Trail Blazer” in Sterling Heights sits on the wall of Ventimiglia Italian Foods.

It is one of eight featured artworks being shown across Michigan as part of the Electrifly Detroit Augmented Reality Mural Festival.

The rest include several pieces in Detroit, along with two each in Ann Arbor and Battle Creek, as well as Popko’s in Sterling Heights.

At first glance, Popko’s augmented reality mural appears to be a summer-y scene, showing kids playing soccer, riding bikes and walking a rainbow trail.

However, through Electrifly’s mobile app, visitors can interact and play a game that counts the number of times they can bounce that soccer ball back to the players

The colors pop off the wall and create a much more immersive experience for passersby.

The cyclists on the trail do, indeed, cycle along the rainbow trail.

As for working with BrandXR’s Electrifly team, Popko said it was a smooth experience.

“They are really good guys,” she said.

Popko shared a story of how the owner of Ventimiglia, a man in his 60’s, received lessons from BrandXR CEO Mahmoud “Moody” Mattan.

Mattan patiently showed him how to download the app and the cool things he could do with it.

“It was the coolest thing ever,” she said. “It was a beautiful moment. To see the building owner with his apron on, and he’s all gray-haired, and just giggling. It was incredible.”

Popko said she constantly sees high school kids stop by the artwork to take a picture with it.

From the Electrifly side, art has become one of the best venues through which to demonstrate to the general public how augmented reality murals can beatify a community.

The high-tech addition brings centuries-old techniques into the 2020s smoothly and allows artists to express themselves through this new medium.

Augmented reality murals also help showcase the endless possibilities of AR in an accessible setting, said BrandXR CEO Mahmoud "Moody" Mattan.

“Augmented Reality Murals are content creation machines that drive traffic to specific businesses or local landmarks, it’s been incredible to see how brands and cities have latched onto the concept," he said.

As for the idea of “public art,” Popko said she loves how the attitude that revolves around that term has changed.

“We have gone from viewing tagged buildings as urban blight to appreciating the artistic skill and beauty that community art brings to neighborhoods,” she said. “We’ve gone from feeling the need to cover up imagery associated with graffiti to celebrating it, appreciating it and embracing the visions.”